Kitchens for Every Style

A breath of country air

At this Indiana lake house, an open floor plan relaxes beneath tall ceilings and windows capping the soaring atrium. Adding the atrium sacrificed some second-floor living space, but ensures an airy, bright kitchen. Warm wood floors, simple base moldings and Shaker-style kitchen cabinets further the country feel. Iron light fixtures and wrought-iron barstools with antique-reproduction bases add rusticity similar to the farm implements hanging on the upstairs walls.

Let it shine

Farmhouse kitchen

The kitchen of this Nebraska farmhouse originally had dark wood cabinets, making the 10x12-foot room feel even more cramped. To open up the space, the homeowner painted the cabinets white and removed doors from upper cabinets flanking the window. A 39x19-inch island conceals recycling and trash cans on the sink side. A new apron-front sink, modern faucet and butcher-block counter meld with the country character.

Open spaces

Carefree lake house

Open shelving reflects the informal style of this Michigan lake home. Warm wood accents—most notably, the dark floor and vent hood—ground the all-white palette. To cover the stainless-steel hood, the owner’s uncle cheated the look of pricey walnut panels by cutting grooves in walnut plywood with a router then sealing it with satin water-based clear polyurethane.

Serene blue

Country decorating

Nothing says country like the barn look of flat-board paneling. Here, paneling adds texture to the island base and cabinet fronts and backs, while stained paneling puts subtle color on the walls. Dashes of barn red enliven the space.

Working overtime

Streamlined and inventive, the breakfast area of this galley kitchen multitasks as an entertaining bar with access to outdoor living spaces. A slim vintage console serves as an island or table without crowding the narrow room like a round table would. But don’t let the stature fool you: Its bold design commands full attention from early-morning bagels until the last call.

Maximizing a small space

The small kitchen of a 1905 southwest Michigan farmhouse gets maximum impact from smart design. A free-standing island is both prep area and casual dining space; the pot rack to the left of the stove adds visual texture and frees up storage space elsewhere.

Entertaining in mind

The center island in this kitchen doubles as a buffet when the family entertains and also offers additional work space. Mellow wood tones and cheery gold and orange accents make the kitchen warm and inviting.

Cottage feel

Vintage mix

Mix salvaged pieces with modern stainless-steel upper shelves and appliances for a colorful, vintage vibe. In this Minnesota kitchen, a rusty metal sign propped against the countertop-to-ceiling tilework takes the place of a traditional backsplash behind the range. Instead of another cabinet door, vintage fabric hung on a tension rod creates a curtain to hide supplies. A red cup dispenser mounted on the window frame lets kids quickly grab drinks. A rusty 6-foot iron gate becomes unexpected decor on cabinet fronts.

Colonial tradition

Consider the style of your house when designing your kitchen. Here, painted cabinets, granite counters and crown molding are at home in a Colonial-style house. The red brick backsplash complements the warm wood counter on the island. Cabinet panels hide the appliances for a seamless look. The black counter stools and chandelier offer the finishing touches on the classic space.

Cottage cheer

A large window takes the place of upper wall cabinets and fills this Indiana kitchen with light. Painted green base cabinets wearing round white knobs pair with the natural wood flooring and island top for a casual feel. Boat paddles, vacation memorabilia and a yellow hutch with vintage dishware add cottage charm.

60-Second Video: Kitchen inspirations

Signature color

Energetic color works in the kitchen because it is such an active family space. Here, bright green upper cabinets pop above black base cabinets and white marble counters, creating a memorable palette. Stainless steel appliances and accents add the right amount of contemporary style.

Easygoing entertaining

The cottage-style kitchen in this Michigan home encourages guests to gather around the 9-foot-long island. Four barstools offer plenty of seating for socializing. Beaded-board cabinetry, a herringbone-pattern tile backsplash and open shelving highlight the casual design.

Thrifty country style

Sensible style

Stock kitchen cabinetry is budget-friendly and smart in this Indiana beach house full of active kids and summer fun. If a door breaks or gets stained or scratched, the homeowner can simply take it off the hinges and get a new door front.

Sun-filled kitchen

Walls of windows fill this kitchen with natural light and connect the space to its beautiful surroundings. White trim on the windows emphasizes the crisp, clean aesthetic. Natural-grained cherry cabinets reflect the views of nature outside. A large island offers additional storage to make up for missing upper cabinetry.

Classic meets cottage

White-painted recessed-panel cabinetry in the kitchen, paired with stately crown moldings and traditional hardware, keeps a cottage look grounded. Deepen the warm, collected-over-time vibe with a weathered island in an earthy hue. Then let a bright accent wall or lively backsplash, along with sassy accessories, serve as a vivid reminder of your overall color scheme.

Contemporary convenience

Built for Baby Boomers who want accessibility but not an "old" look, this kitchen offers features such as easy-to-reach upper cabinets, drawer dishwashers and faucet foot pedal controls. Dark and light contrasts appeal to declining eyesight, but the dramatic dark cabinets, white counters and royal blue accents show this kitchen is anything but out-of-date!

Small-space solutions

This narrow galley kitchen benefits from white cabinets and white carrara marble countertops that visually open the space. Glass-door upper cabinets also help the room feel larger. Classic gray subway tile adds a contrasting design element and leads the eye to the large window over the sink.

Go bold

Fire-engine red high-gloss cabinets set the tone in this contemporary kitchen. A plain white subway tile backsplash, gray countertops, and wood floors and island dial down the color factor just a bit. Counter-to-ceiling windows flood the space with light.

Nature meets modern

The outdoors provided inspiration for this kitchen. Stacked stone creates textured accent walls that juxtapose with contemporary lighting and other modern details. A deer head carved from wood emphasizes the fresh take on lodge decor. Exposed beams continue the rustic theme, but stainless steel makes them modern.

Chicago architects' kitchen

One of the region's most-respected design teams, husband-and-wife architects Elissa Morgante and Fred Wilson, used their Chicago-area home as a canvas for experimenting with new materials and tweaking the rules. Among the features of this kitchen:
• The fridge and many cabinets wear Lumicor, a lightweight plastic that looks like glass.
• Although the kitchen displays a contemporary aesthetic, wooden elements ensure that it's cozy.
• Sleek, stainless-steel hardware accents white-painted cabinets to mirror appliances. Walnut banding outlines cabinets. A mix of open and closed shelving adds visual interest while providing plenty of out-of-sight storage.
• The perimeter wall of horizontal cabinets has walls that lift up, not out, so doors don't get in the cook's way.
• Hand-made backsplash glass tiles work with horizontal cabinetry and handles to create linear flow.

Wide-open spaces

This kitchen, completely open to the adjacent family room, has a comfortable country vibe. Vintage corbels and saddle-seat stools accent the island, and a country armoire holds extra dishes and accessories.

DIY style

This kitchen remodel was a do-it-yourself family affair. The compact room gets a facelift with blue-painted cabinetry, glass inserts in cabinet doors, a diamond-pattern backsplash, and a one-of-a-kind concrete countertop that includes bits of glass and other materials from the remodel.

Under the eaves

A tiny second-floor condo features a charming open galley kitchen that gets great personality from the homeowner's collections and vintage light fixtures. White walls and cabinetry combine with plenty of natural light for a bright, airy look.

Asian simplicity

Airy and soothing is the mantra of this modern kitchen. Big windows offer views and light. An uninterrupted sweep of light cabinets and dark countertops wraps the perimeter. A spare assortment of clean-lined accessories keeps the look uncluttered.

Details we love

Utilitarian charm

In this Chicago-area kitchen, the homeowner uses a vintage library cart on wheels in place of a kitchen island. “I like that it can be moved around,” she says. She removed cabinet doors under the farm sink and hung a skirt of vintage fabric for old-fashioned charm.

Accessible kitchen

Designing a fully wheelchair-accessible kitchen was a challenge for this Ohio homeowner, but clever modifications give access to the prep areas and appliances. In fact, many of the design decisions make cooking easier for everyone. Appliances, such as dishwasher drawers and a side-opening wall oven, are easy to reach.

Family style

A big family inspired this kitchen with two islands. The one closest to the refrigerator accommodates after-school snacks and homework or craft projects. The one near the cooking area has a marble top and secondary sink to function as a prep area.

Upscale cottage

Classic beaded board, an apron sink and hardware give this kitchen its cottage style, but teak counters, a wrought-iron divider and glass transoms dress up the look. Separate cooking, cleanup and prep areas make it super functional.

Serious cook's kitchen

Making it easy for the cook to see and find everything was the goal in this kitchen. Upper cabinets have no doors, but are outfitted with cubbies, shelves or slats to hold cooking necessities where needed. Appliance placement minimizes steps and maximizes convenience.

Earthy country

Brick walls and two-tone cabinetry form the backdrops for country collections. A U-shape work zone holds the cooktop and sink. The cabinetry-encased oven and microwave sit outside the work triangle. Wood tones pull it all together.